Overview
- Average Client Assets
- $8.2 million
- Minimum Account Size
- $3,000,000
- SEC CRD Number
- 328453
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (ADV PART 2A)
| Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $3,000,000 | 0.95% |
| $3,000,001 | $5,000,000 | 0.75% |
| $5,000,001 | $10,000,000 | 0.50% |
| $10,000,001 | $25,000,000 | 0.30% |
| $25,000,001 | and above | Negotiable |
Illustrative Fee Rates
| Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | Below minimum client size | |
| $5 million | $43,500 | 0.87% |
| $10 million | $68,500 | 0.68% |
| $50 million | Negotiable | Negotiable |
| $100 million | Negotiable | Negotiable |
Clients
- HNW Share of Firm Assets
- 98.31%
- Total Client Accounts
- 57
- Discretionary Accounts
- 53
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 4
Services Offered
Services: Financial Planning, Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Institutional Clients
Regulatory Filings
Primary Brochure: ADV PART 2A (2026-03-23)
View Document Text
Item 1
Cover Page
1015 Capital Partners, LLC
ADV Part 2A, Firm Brochure
Dated: March 23, 2026
Contact: Mary C. McNutt, Chief Compliance Officer
933 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1022
Narberth, PA 19072
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of 1015 Capital
Partners, LLC. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please contact us. The
information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about 1015 Capital Partners, LLC is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
References herein to 1015 Capital Partners, LLC as a “registered investment adviser” or any
reference to being “registered” does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Item 2
Material Changes
There have been no material changes since Registrant’s initial Form ADV filed on January 28, 2025.
Item 3
Table of Contents
Item 1 Cover Page .................................................................................................................................... 1
Item 2 Material Changes .......................................................................................................................... 2
Item 3
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 2
Item 4 Advisory Business ........................................................................................................................ 3
Fees and Compensation ................................................................................................................ 8
Item 5
Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ............................................................ 9
Item 6
Item 7
Types of Clients .......................................................................................................................... 10
Item 8 Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ................................................... 10
Item 9 Disciplinary Information ............................................................................................................ 12
Item 10 Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations .................................................................. 12
Item 11 Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading.............. 12
Item 12 Brokerage Practices .................................................................................................................... 13
Item 13 Review of Accounts .................................................................................................................... 16
Item 14 Client Referrals and Other Compensation .................................................................................. 16
Item 15 Custody ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Investment Discretion ................................................................................................................. 17
Item 16
Item 17 Voting Client Securities .............................................................................................................. 17
Item 18 Financial Information ................................................................................................................. 17
2
Item 4
Advisory Business
A. 1015 Capital Partners, LLC (the “Registrant”) is a limited liability company formed in
October 2023 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Registrant is owned by Mary C.
McNutt and Michelle J. Blass and are Co-Managing Members.
B.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
The Registrant provides discretionary investment advisory services on a fee-only basis. The
Registrant’s annual investment advisory fee is based upon a percentage (%) of the market
value of the client’s assets placed under the Registrant’s management.
The Registrant’s annual investment advisory fee typically includes investment advisory
services and financial planning and consulting services. In the event the client requires
extraordinary planning and/or consultation services (to be determined in the sole discretion
of the Registrant), Registrant may determine to charge for such additional services, the
dollar amount of which shall be set forth in a separate written notice to the client.
Before engaging Registrant to provide investment advisory services, clients are required to
enter into an Investment Advisory Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the
engagement (including termination), describing the scope of the services to be provided,
and the fee that is due from the client. Before providing investment advisory services, an
investment adviser representative will ascertain each client’s investment objectives.
Thereafter, Registrant will allocate and/or recommend that the client allocate investment
assets consistent with the designated investment objectives. Once allocated, Registrant
provides ongoing monitoring and review of account performance, asset allocation and
client investment objectives.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONSULTING SERVICES
The Registrant may provide financial planning and/or consulting services (including
investment and non-investment related matters, including estate planning, insurance
planning, etc.) on a stand-alone separate fee basis. Registrant’s planning and consulting
services are offered on a fixed fee basis. The Registrant may also be engaged by a client to
complete a project separate and apart from the Registrant’s core services.
Prior to engaging the Registrant to provide planning or consulting services, clients are
generally required to enter into a Financial Planning and Consulting Agreement with
Registrant setting forth the terms and conditions of the engagement (including
termination), describing the scope of the services to be provided, and the portion of the fee
that is due from the client prior to Registrant commencing services. If requested by the
client, Registrant may recommend the services of other professionals for implementation
purposes. The client is under no obligation to engage the services of any such
recommended professional. The client retains absolute discretion over all such
implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any recommendation from the
Registrant.
If the client engages any recommended unaffiliated professional, and a dispute arises
thereafter relative to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from
and against the engaged professional. At all times, the engaged licensed professional[s]
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(i.e., attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not the Registrant, shall be
responsible for the quality and competency of the services provided.
It remains the client’s responsibility to promptly notify the Registrant if there is ever any
change in their financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing,
evaluating or revising Registrant’s previous recommendations and/or services.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Limitations of Financial Planning and Non-Investment Consulting/Implementation
Services. To the extent requested by a client, Registrant may provide financial planning
and related consulting services regarding non-investment related matters, such as estate
planning, tax planning, insurance, etc. The Registrant does not serve as a law firm, an
accounting firm or an insurance agency and no portion of Registrant’s services should be
construed as legal, accounting or insurance services. Accordingly, Registrant does not
prepare estate planning documents or tax returns.
To the extent requested by a client, Registrant may recommend the services of other
professionals for certain non-investment implementation purposes (i.e., attorneys,
accountants, insurance agents, etc.). Clients are reminded that they are under no obligation
to engage the services of any such recommended professional. The client retains absolute
discretion over all such implementation decisions and is free to accept or reject any
recommendation made by Registrant or its representatives.
If the client engages any recommended unaffiliated professional, and a dispute arises
thereafter relative to such engagement, the client agrees to seek recourse exclusively from
and against the engaged professional. At all times, the engaged licensed professional[s]
(i.e., attorney, accountant, insurance agent, etc.), and not the Registrant, shall be
responsible for the quality and competency of the services provided.
Retirement Rollovers-Potential for Conflict of Interest: A client or prospective client
leaving an employer typically has four options regarding an existing retirement plan (and
may engage in a combination of these options): (i) leave the money in the former
employer’s plan, if permitted, (ii) roll over the assets to the new employer’s plan, if one is
available and rollovers are permitted, (iii) roll over to an Individual Retirement Account
(“IRA”), or (iv) cash out the account value (which could, depending upon the client’s age,
result in adverse tax consequences). If Registrant recommends that a client roll over their
retirement plan assets into an account to be managed by Registrant, such a recommendation
creates a conflict of interest if Registrant will earn new (or increase its current)
compensation as a result of the rollover. If Registrant provides a recommendation as to
whether a client should engage in a rollover or not (whether it is from an employer’s plan
or an existing IRA), Registrant is acting as a fiduciary within the meaning of Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act and/or the Internal Revenue Code, as
applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. No client is under any obligation
to roll over retirement plan assets to an account managed by Registrant, whether it is from
an employer’s plan or an existing IRA.
Independent Managers. The Registrant may allocate (and/or recommend that the client
allocate) a portion of a client’s investment assets among unaffiliated independent
investment managers in accordance with the client’s designated investment objective(s).
In such situations, the Independent Managers shall have day-to-day responsibility for the
4
active discretionary management of the allocated assets. The Registrant shall continue to
render investment advisory services to the client relative to the ongoing monitoring and
review of account performance, asset allocation and client investment objectives. Factors
which the Registrant shall consider in recommending Independent Managers include the
client’s designated investment objective(s), management style, performance, reputation,
financial strength, reporting, pricing, and research. The investment management fee
charged by the Independent Manager(s) is separate and in addition to the Registrant’s
investment advisory fee.
Private Investment Funds. Registrant also provides investment advice regarding private
investment funds. Registrant, on a non-discretionary basis, may recommend that certain
qualified clients consider an investment in private investment funds, the description of
which (the terms, conditions, risks, conflicts and fees, including incentive compensation)
is set forth in the fund’s offering documents. Registrant’s role relative to unaffiliated
private investment funds shall be limited to its initial and ongoing due diligence and
investment monitoring services. If a client determines to become an unaffiliated private
fund investor, the amount of assets invested in the fund(s) shall be included as part of
“assets under management” for purposes of Registrant calculating its investment advisory
fee. Registrant’s fee shall be in addition to the fund’s fees. Registrant’s clients are under
absolutely no obligation to consider or make an investment in any private investment
fund(s).
Risks: Private investment funds generally involve various risk factors, including, but not
limited to, potential for complete loss of principal, liquidity constraints and lack of
transparency, a complete discussion of which is set forth in each fund’s offering
documents, which will be provided to each client for review and consideration. Unlike
liquid investments that a client may own, private investment funds do not provide daily
liquidity or pricing. Each prospective client investor will be required to complete a
Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the client shall establish that the client is
qualified for investment in the fund, and acknowledges and accepts the various risk factors
that are associated with such an investment.
Valuation: In the event that Registrant references private investment funds owned by the
client on any supplemental account reports prepared by Registrant, the value(s) for all
private investment funds owned by the client shall reflect the most recent valuation
provided by the fund sponsor. However, if subsequent to purchase, the fund has not
provided an updated valuation, the valuation shall reflect the initial purchase price. If
subsequent to purchase, the fund provides an updated valuation, then the statement will
reflect that updated value. The updated value will continue to be reflected on the report
until the fund provides a further updated value. As result of the valuation process, if the
valuation reflects initial purchase price or an updated value subsequent to purchase price,
the current value(s) of an investor’s fund holding(s) could be significantly more or less
than the value reflected on the report. Unless otherwise indicated, Registrant shall calculate
its fee based upon the latest value provided by the fund sponsor.
the
Socially Responsible (ESG) Investing Limitations. Socially Responsible Investing
involves
incorporation of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”)
considerations into the investment due diligence process. Registrant does not maintain or
advocate an ESG investment strategy but will seek to employ ESG if directed by a client
to do so. If implemented, Registrant shall rely upon the assessments undertaken by the
unaffiliated mutual fund, exchange traded fund or separate account portfolio manager to
5
determine that the fund’s or portfolio’s underlying company securities meet a socially
responsible mandate.
ESG investing incorporates a set of criteria/factors used in evaluating potential
investments: Environmental (i.e., considers how a company safeguards the environment);
Social (i.e., the manner in which a company manages relationships with its employees,
customers, and the communities in which it operates); and Governance (i.e., company
management considerations). The number of companies that meet an acceptable ESG
mandate can be limited when compared to those that do not and could underperform broad
market indices.
Investors must accept these limitations, including potential for underperformance.
Correspondingly, the number of ESG mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are limited
when compared to those that do not maintain such a mandate. As with any type of
investment (including any investment and/or investment strategies recommended and/or
undertaken by Registrant), there can be no assurance that investment in ESG securities or
funds will be profitable or prove successful.
Client Obligations. In performing its services, Registrant shall not be required to verify
any information received from the client or from the client’s other professionals, and is
expressly authorized to rely thereon. Moreover, each client is advised that it remains their
responsibility to promptly notify the Registrant if there is ever any change in their financial
situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating or revising
Registrant’s previous recommendations and/or services.
Cash Positions. Registrant treats cash as an asset class. As such, unless determined to the
contrary by Registrant, all cash positions (money markets, etc.) shall continue to be
included as part of assets under management for purposes of calculating Registrant’s
advisory fee. At any specific point in time, depending upon perceived or anticipated market
conditions/events (there being no guarantee that such anticipated market conditions/events
will occur), Registrant may maintain cash positions for defensive purposes. In addition,
while assets are maintained in cash, such amounts could miss market advances. Depending
upon current yields, at any point in time, Registrant’s advisory fee could exceed the interest
paid by the client’s money market fund.
Cash Sweep Accounts. Certain account custodians can require that cash proceeds from
account transactions or new deposits, be swept to and/or initially maintained in a specific
custodian designated sweep account. The yield on the sweep account will generally be
lower than those available for other money market accounts. When this occurs, to help
mitigate the corresponding yield dispersion Registrant shall (usually within 30 days
thereafter) generally (with exceptions) purchase a higher yielding money market fund (or
other type security) available on the custodian’s platform, unless Registrant reasonably
anticipates that it will utilize the cash proceeds during the subsequent 30-day period to
purchase additional investments for the client’s account. Exceptions and/or modifications
can and will occur with respect to all or a portion of the cash balances for various reasons,
including, but not limited to the amount of dispersion between the sweep account and a
money market fund, the size of the cash balance, an indication from the client of an
imminent need for such cash, or the client has a demonstrated history of writing checks
from the account.
6
The above does not apply to the cash component maintained within a Registrant actively
managed investment strategy (the cash balances for which shall generally remain in the
custodian designated cash sweep account), an indication from the client of a need for access
to such cash, assets allocated to an unaffiliated investment manager and cash balances
maintained for fee billing purposes.
The client shall remain exclusively responsible for yield dispersion/cash balance decisions
and corresponding transactions for cash balances maintained in any Registrant unmanaged
accounts.
Cybersecurity Risk. The information technology systems and networks that Registrant
and its third-party service providers use to provide services to Registrant’s clients employ
various controls that are designed to prevent cybersecurity incidents stemming from
intentional or unintentional actions that could cause significant interruptions in Registrant’s
operations and/or result in the unauthorized acquisition or use of clients’ confidential or
non-public personal information. Clients and Registrant are nonetheless subject to the risk
of cybersecurity incidents that could ultimately cause them to incur financial losses and/or
other adverse consequences. Although the Registrant has established processes to reduce
the risk of cybersecurity incidents, there is no guarantee that these efforts will always be
successful, especially considering that the Registrant does not control the cybersecurity
measures and policies employed by third-party service providers, issuers of securities,
broker-dealers, qualified custodians, governmental and other regulatory authorities,
exchanges and other financial market operators and providers.
Client Privacy and Confidentiality. The Registrant maintains policies and procedures
designed to help protect the confidentiality and security of client nonpublic personal
information (“NPPI”). NPPI includes, but is not limited to, social security numbers, credit
or debit card numbers, state identification card numbers, driver’s license number and
account numbers. The Registrant maintains administrative, technical, and physical
safeguards designed to protect such information from unauthorized access, use, loss, or
destruction. These safeguards include controls relating to data access, information security,
and incident response, and are reviewed to address changes in risk and business. Client
information may be disclosed in response to regulatory requests, legal obligations, or as
otherwise permitted by law, and any such disclosure is made in accordance with applicable
privacy and confidentiality requirements.
The Registrant may engage non-affiliated service providers in connection with providing
advisory services, and such providers may have access to client NPPI, as necessary, to
perform their functions. The Registrant confirms that service providers maintain
safeguards designed to protect client information from unauthorized access or use and
provide notice to the Registrant in the event of a cybersecurity incident involving client
information maintained by the service provider. While the Registrant maintains policies
and procedures designed to protect client information, such measures cannot eliminate all
risk. The Registrant will notify clients in the event of a data breach involving their NPPI
as may be required by applicable state and federal laws.
Account Aggregation Reporting Services. Registrant uses account aggregation software,
which can incorporate client investment assets that are not part of the assets that Registrant
manages (the “Excluded Assets”). Unless agreed to otherwise, in writing, the client and/or
their other advisors that maintain trading authority, and not Registrant, shall be exclusively
responsible for the investment performance of the Excluded Assets. Unless also agreed to
7
otherwise, in writing, Registrant does not provide investment management, monitoring or
implementation services for the Excluded Assets. The client can engage Registrant to
provide investment management services for the Excluded Assets pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and the client.
Disclosure Statement. A copy of the Registrant’s written Brochure and Client
Relationship Summary, as set forth on Part 2 of Form ADV and Form CRS respectively,
shall be provided to each client prior to, or contemporaneously with, the execution of the
Investment Advisory Agreement or Financial Planning and Consulting Agreement.
to providing
investment advisory services, an
C. The Registrant shall provide investment advisory services specific to the needs of each
client. Prior
investment adviser
representative will ascertain each client’s investment objective(s). Thereafter, the
Registrant shall allocate and/or recommend that the client allocate investment assets
consistent with the designated investment objective(s). The client may, at any time, impose
reasonable restrictions, in writing, on the Registrant’s services.
D. The Registrant does not participate in a wrap fee program.
E. As of December 31, 2025, the Registrant had $148,401,706 in assets under management
on a discretionary basis and $1,984,470 on a non-discretionary basis.
Item 5
Fees and Compensation
A.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Registrant provides investment advisory services on a discretionary fee-only basis.
Registrant’s annual investment advisory fee shall be based upon blended tiered schedule,
each tier calculated as a percentage (%) of the market value of the assets placed under the
Registrant’s management, (generally, between negotiable and 0.95%) as follows:
Assets Under Management
First $3,000,000
Next $2,000,000
Next $5,000,000
Next $15,000,000
Over $25,000,000
Annual Fee
0.95%
0.75%
0.50%
0.30%
Negotiable
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONSULTING SERVICES
Registrant’s planning and consulting services are offered on a fixed fee basis. The
Registrant’s fixed fee shall be based upon the level and scope of the service(s) required and
the professional(s) rendering the service(s). The Registrant may also be engaged by a client
to complete a project separate and apart from the Registrant’s core services, in these
instances the Registrant’s planning and consulting fee shall generally range from $5,000 to
$25,000 on a negotiated fixed fee.
B. Clients may elect to have the Registrant’s advisory fees deducted from their custodial
account. Both Registrant's Investment Advisory Agreement and the custodial/clearing
8
agreement may authorize the custodian to debit the account for the amount of the
Registrant's investment advisory fee and to directly remit that management fee to the
Registrant in compliance with regulatory procedures. In the limited event that the
Registrant bills the client directly, payment is due upon receipt of the Registrant’s invoice.
C. As discussed below, unless the client directs otherwise or an individual client’s
circumstances require, the Registrant shall generally recommend that Charles Schwab &
Co. Inc. (“Schwab”), serves as the broker-dealer/custodian for client investment
management assets.
Broker-dealers such as Schwab charge brokerage commissions, transaction, and/or other
type fees for effecting certain types of securities transactions (i.e., including transaction
fees for certain mutual funds, and mark-ups and mark-downs charged for fixed income
transactions, etc.). The types of securities for which transaction fees, commissions, and/or
other type fees (as well as the amount of those fees) shall differ depending upon the broker-
dealer/custodian. While certain custodians, including Schwab, generally (with the potential
exception for large orders) do not currently charge fees on individual equity transactions
(including ETFs), others do.
There can be no assurance that Schwab will not change their transaction fee pricing in the
future.
Schwab may also assess fees to clients who elect to receive trade confirmations and account
statements by regular mail rather than electronically.
Clients will incur, in addition to Registrant’s investment management fee, brokerage
commissions and/or transaction fees, and, relative to all mutual fund and exchange traded
fund purchases, charges imposed at the fund level (e.g., management fees and other fund
expenses)
D. Registrant’s annual investment advisory fee shall be prorated and paid monthly, in arrears,
based upon the value of the client’s managed accounts as of the last business day of the
previous month.
The Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and the client will continue in
effect until terminated by either party by written notice in accordance with the terms of the
Investment Advisory Agreement. Upon termination, the client shall be responsible for
paying a prorated portion of the Registrant’s advisory fee, depending upon the number of
days during the final billing month services were rendered.
E. Neither the Registrant, nor its representatives accept compensation from the sale of
securities or other investment products.
Item 6
Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
Neither the Registrant nor any supervised person of the Registrant accepts performance-
based fees.
9
Item 7
Types of Clients
The Registrant’s clients shall generally include individuals, business entities, trusts, estates,
and charitable organizations. The Registrant generally requires clients maintain a minimum
asset level of $3,000,000 for investment management services.
Item 8
Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
A. The Registrant may utilize the following methods of security analysis:
Charting - (analysis performed using patterns to identify current trends and trend
reversals to forecast the direction of prices)
Fundamental - (analysis performed on historical and present data, with the goal of
making financial forecasts)
Technical – (analysis performed on historical and present data, focusing on price
and trade volume, to forecast the direction of prices)
The Registrant may utilize the following investment strategies when implementing
investment advice given to clients:
Long Term Purchases (securities held at least a year)
Short Term Purchases (securities sold within a year)
Trading (securities sold within thirty (30) days)
Investment Risk. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it
should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment
strategy (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or
undertaken by the Registrant) will be profitable or equal any specific performance level(s).
Investing in securities involves an inherent risk of loss that clients should be prepared to
bear.
Investors generally face the following types of investment risks:
Interest-rate Risk: Fluctuations in interest rates may cause investment prices to fluctuate.
For example, when interest rates rise, yields on existing bonds become less attractive,
causing their market values to decline.
Market Risk: The price of a security, bond, or mutual fund may drop in reaction to
tangible and intangible events and conditions. This type of risk may be caused by
external factors independent of the fund’s specific investments as well as due to the
fund’s specific investments. Additionally, each security’s price will fluctuate based on
market movement and emotion, which may, or may not be due to the security’s
operations or changes in its true value. For example, political, economic and social
conditions may trigger market events which are temporarily negative, or temporarily
positive.
Inflation Risk: When any type of inflation is present, a dollar today will not buy as much
as a dollar next year, because purchasing power is eroding at the rate of inflation.
Reinvestment Risk: This is the risk that future proceeds from investments may have to
be reinvested at a potentially lower rate of return (i.e., interest rate). This primarily
relates to fixed income securities.
10
Liquidity Risk: Liquidity is the ability to readily convert an investment into cash.
Generally, assets are more liquid if many traders are interested in a standardized product.
For example, Treasury Bills are highly liquid, while real estate properties are not.
Financial Risk: Excessive borrowing to finance a business’ operations increases the risk
of profitability, because the company must meet the terms of its obligations in good times
and bad. During periods of financial stress, the inability to meet loan obligations may
result in bankruptcy and/or a declining market value.
B. The Registrant’s methods of analysis and investment strategies do not present any
significant or unusual risks.
However, every method of analysis has its own inherent risks. To perform an accurate
market analysis the Registrant must have access to current/new market information. The
Registrant has no control over the dissemination rate of market information; therefore,
unbeknownst to the Registrant, certain analyses may be compiled with outdated market
information, severely limiting the value of the Registrant’s analysis. Furthermore, an
accurate market analysis can only produce a forecast of the direction of market values.
There can be no assurances that a forecasted change in market value will materialize into
actionable and/or profitable investment opportunities.
The Registrant’s primary investment strategies - Long Term Purchases, Short Term
Purchases, and Trading - are fundamental investment strategies. However, every
investment strategy has its own inherent risks and limitations. For example, longer term
investment strategies require a longer investment time period to allow for the strategy to
potentially develop. Shorter term investment strategies require a shorter investment time
period to potentially develop but, as a result of more frequent trading, may incur higher
transactional costs when compared to a longer term investment strategy. Trading, an
investment strategy that requires the purchase and sale of securities within a thirty (30) day
investment time period, involves a very short investment time period but will incur higher
transaction costs when compared to a short term investment strategy and substantially
higher transaction costs than a longer term investment strategy.
Borrowing Against Assets/Risks. A client who has a need to borrow money could
determine to do so by using:
Margin-The account custodian or broker-dealer lends money to the client. The
custodian charges the client interest for the right to borrow money, and uses
the assets in the client’s brokerage account as collateral; and,
Pledged Assets Loan- In consideration for a lender (i.e., a bank, etc.) to make
a loan to the client, the client pledges investment assets held at the account
custodian as collateral.
These above-described collateralized loans are generally utilized because they typically
provide more favorable interest rates than standard commercial loans. These types of
collateralized loans can assist with a pending home purchase, permit the retirement of more
expensive debt, or enable borrowing in lieu of liquidating existing account positions and
incurring capital gains taxes. However, such loans are not without potential material risk
to the client’s investment assets. The lender (i.e., custodian, bank, etc.) will have recourse
against the client’s investment assets in the event of loan default or if the assets fall below
a certain level. For this reason, Registrant does not recommend such borrowing unless it is
11
for specific short-term purposes (i.e., a bridge loan to purchase a new residence). Registrant
does not recommend such borrowing for investment purposes (i.e., to invest borrowed
funds in the market). Regardless, if the client was to determine to utilize margin or a
pledged assets loan, the following economic benefits would inure to Registrant:
by taking the loan rather than liquidating assets in the client’s account,
Registrant continues to earn a fee on such Account assets; and,
if the client invests any portion of the loan proceeds in an account to be
managed by Registrant, Registrant will receive an advisory fee on the invested
amount; and,
if Registrant’s advisory fee is based upon the higher margined account value,
Registrant will earn a correspondingly higher advisory fee. This could provide
Registrant with a disincentive to encourage the client to discontinue the use of
margin.
The Client must accept the above risks and potential corresponding consequences
associated with the use of margin or a pledged assets loan.
C. Currently, the Registrant primarily allocates client investment assets among various
individual equity (stocks), debt (bonds) and fixed income securities, mutual funds and/or
ETFs and independent managers on a discretionary basis in accordance with the client’s
designated investment objective(s).
Item 9
Disciplinary Information
Neither the Registrant nor any management person of the Registrant has been the subject
of any disciplinary actions.
Item 10
Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
A. Neither the Registrant, nor its representatives, are registered or have an application pending
to register, as a broker-dealer or a registered representative of a broker-dealer.
B. Neither the Registrant, nor its representatives, are registered or have an application pending
to register, as a futures commission merchant, commodity pool operator, a commodity
trading advisor, or a representative of the foregoing.
C. The Registrant has no other relationship or arrangement with a related person that is
material to its advisory business.
D. The Registrant does not receive, directly or indirectly, compensation from investment
advisors that it recommends or selects for its clients.
Item 11
Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and
Personal Trading
A. The Registrant maintains an investment policy relative to personal securities transactions.
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This investment policy is part of Registrant’s overall Code of Ethics, which serves to
establish a standard of business conduct for all of Registrant’s Representatives that is based
upon fundamental principles of openness, integrity, honesty and trust, a copy of which is
available upon request.
In accordance with Section 204A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Registrant
also maintains and enforces written policies reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of
material non-public information by the Registrant or any person associated with the
Registrant.
B. Neither the Registrant nor any related person of Registrant recommends, buys, or sells for
client accounts, securities in which the Registrant or any related person of Registrant has a
material financial interest.
C. The Registrant and/or representatives of the Registrant may buy or sell securities that are
also recommended to clients. This practice may create a situation where the Registrant
and/or representatives of the Registrant are in a position to materially benefit from the sale
or purchase of those securities. Therefore, this situation creates a conflict of interest.
Practices such as “scalping” (i.e., a practice whereby the owner of shares of a security
recommends that security for investment and then immediately sells it at a profit upon the
rise in the market price which follows the recommendation) could take place if the
Registrant did not have adequate policies in place to detect such activities. In addition, this
requirement can help detect insider trading, “front-running” (i.e., personal trades executed
prior to those of the Registrant’s clients) and other potentially abusive practices.
The Registrant has a personal securities transaction policy in place to monitor the personal
securities transactions and securities holdings of each of the Registrant’s “Access Persons”.
The Registrant’s securities transaction policy requires that an Access Person of the
Registrant must provide the Chief Compliance Officer or his/her designee with a written
report of their current securities holdings within ten (10) days after becoming an Access
Person. Additionally, each Access Person must provide the Chief Compliance Officer or
his/her designee with a written report of the Access Person’s current securities holdings at
least once each twelve (12) month period thereafter on a date the Registrant selects;
provided, however that at any time that the Registrant has only one Access Person, he or
she shall not be required to submit any securities report described above.
D. The Registrant and/or representatives of the Registrant may buy or sell securities, at or
around the same time as those securities are recommended to clients. This practice creates
a situation where the Registrant and/or representatives of the Registrant are in a position to
materially benefit from the sale or purchase of those securities. Therefore, this situation
creates a conflict of interest. As indicated above in Item 11.C, the Registrant has a personal
securities transaction policy in place to monitor the personal securities transaction and
securities holdings of each of Registrant’s Access Persons.
Item 12
Brokerage Practices
A. In the event that the client requests that the Registrant recommend a broker-
dealer/custodian for execution and/or custodial services (exclusive of those clients that may
direct the Registrant to use a specific broker-dealer/custodian), Registrant generally
recommends that investment management accounts be maintained at Schwab. Prior to
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engaging Registrant to provide investment management services, the client will be required
to enter into a formal Investment Advisory Agreement with Registrant setting forth the
terms and conditions under which Registrant shall manage the client's assets, and a separate
custodial/clearing agreement with each designated broker-dealer/ custodian.
Factors that the Registrant considers in recommending Schwab (or any other broker-
dealer/custodian to clients) include historical relationship with the Registrant, financial
strength, reputation, execution capabilities, pricing, research, and service. Although the
commissions and/or transaction fees paid by Registrant's clients shall comply with the
Registrant's duty to seek best execution, a client may pay a commission that is higher than
another qualified broker-dealer might charge to affect the same transaction where the
Registrant determines, in good faith, that the commission/transaction fee is reasonable. In
seeking best execution, the determinative factor is not the lowest possible cost, but whether
the transaction represents the best qualitative execution, taking into consideration the full
range of a broker-dealer’s services, including the value of research provided, execution
capability, commission rates, and responsiveness. Accordingly, although Registrant will
seek competitive rates, it may not necessarily obtain the lowest possible commission rates
for client account transactions. The brokerage commissions or transaction fees charged by
the designated broker-dealer/custodian are exclusive of, and in addition to, Registrant's
investment management fee. The Registrant’s best execution responsibility is qualified if
securities that it purchases for client accounts are mutual funds that trade at net asset value
as determined at the daily market close.
1. Research and Additional Benefits
Although not a material consideration when determining whether to recommend that a
client utilize the services of a particular broker-dealer/custodian, Registrant receives
from Schwab (or another broker-dealer/custodian, investment platform, unaffiliated
investment manager, vendor, unaffiliated product/fund sponsor, or vendor) without
cost (and/or at a discount) support services and/or products, certain of which assist the
Registrant to better monitor and service client accounts maintained at such institutions.
Included within the support services that may be obtained by the Registrant may be
investment-related research, pricing information and market data, software and other
technology that provide access to client account data, compliance and/or practice
management-related publications, discounted or gratis consulting services, discounted
and/or gratis attendance at conferences, meetings, and other educational and/or social
events, marketing support, computer hardware and/or software and/or other products
used by Registrant in furtherance of its investment advisory business operations. In
these situations the Registrant receives a benefit because the Registrant does not have
to produce or pay for research, products or services.
As indicated above, certain of the support services and/or products that may be received
may assist the Registrant in managing and administering client accounts. Others do not
directly provide such assistance, but rather assist the Registrant to manage and further
develop its business enterprise. The Registrant may have an incentive to select or
recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest in receiving research or other products
or services, rather than on our client's interest in receiving the most favorable
execution.
There is no corresponding commitment made by the Registrant to Schwab or any other
entity to invest any specific amount or percentage of client assets in any specific mutual
funds, securities or other investment products as a result of the above arrangement.
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Additional Benefits
The Registrant may receive certain additional benefits from Schwab intended to assist
the Registrant with its initial launch and client transition expenses. The value of the
additional benefits received shall increase based upon the total value of the assets
Registrant’s clients custody with Schwab. The Registrant has no expectation that these
Additional Benefits will be offered again; however, the Registrant reserves the right to
negotiate for these Additional Benefits in the future.
Schwab provides the Additional Benefits to Registrant in its sole discretion and at its
own expense, and neither the Registrant nor its clients pay any fees to Schwab for the
Additional Benefits. The Additional Benefits are generally provided on an unsolicited
basis. The recommendation by Registrant or its representatives that a client select
Schwab as designated broker-dealer/custodian for their accounts or transfer their
account assets from another broker-dealer/custodian to Schwab presents a conflict of
interest, because Registrant has an incentive to make such a recommendation based on
its interest in receiving the Additional Benefits to benefit its business interests, rather
than based on clients’ interest in receiving the best value in custody services and the
most favorable execution of transactions.
2. The Registrant does not receive referrals from broker-dealers.
3. The Registrant does not generally accept directed brokerage arrangements (when a
client requires that account transactions be affected through a specific broker-dealer).
In such client directed arrangements, the client will negotiate terms and arrangements
for their account with that broker-dealer, and Registrant will not seek better execution
services or prices from other broker-dealers or be able to “batch” the client's
transactions for execution through other broker-dealers with orders for other accounts
managed by Registrant. As a result, client may pay higher commissions or other
transaction costs or greater spreads, or receive less favorable net prices, on transactions
for the account than would otherwise be the case.
In the event that the client directs Registrant to effect securities transactions for the
client's accounts through a specific broker-dealer, the client correspondingly
acknowledges that such direction may cause the accounts to incur higher commissions
or transaction costs than the accounts would otherwise incur had the client determined
to effect account transactions through alternative clearing arrangements that may be
available through Registrant. Higher transaction costs adversely impact account
performance.
Transactions for directed accounts will generally be executed following the execution
of portfolio transactions for non-directed accounts.
The Registrant’s Chief Compliance Officer remains available to address any questions
that a client or prospective client may have regarding the above arrangement.
B. To the extent that the Registrant provides investment management services to its clients,
the transactions for each client account generally will be effected independently, unless the
Registrant decides to purchase or sell the same securities for several clients at
approximately the same time. The Registrant may (but is not obligated to) combine or
“bunch” such orders to seek best execution, to negotiate more favorable commission rates
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or to allocate equitably among the Registrant’s clients differences in prices and
commissions or other transaction costs that might have been obtained had such orders been
placed independently. Under this procedure, transactions will be averaged as to price and
will be allocated among clients in proportion to the purchase and sale orders placed for
each client account on any given day. The Registrant shall not receive any additional
compensation or remuneration as a result of such aggregation.
Item 13
Review of Accounts
A. For those clients to whom Registrant provides investment supervisory services, account
reviews are conducted on an ongoing basis by the Registrant's Principal and/or
representatives. All investment supervisory clients are advised that it remains their
responsibility to advise the Registrant of any changes in their investment objectives and/or
financial situation. All clients (in person or via telephone) are encouraged to review
financial planning issues (to the extent applicable), investment objectives and account
performance with the Registrant on an annual basis.
B. The Registrant may conduct account reviews on an other than periodic basis upon the
occurrence of a triggering event, such as a change in client investment objectives and/or
financial situation, market corrections and client request.
C. Clients are provided, at least quarterly, with written transaction confirmation notices and
regular written summary account statements directly from the broker-dealer/custodian for
the client accounts. The Registrant shall also provide a written monthly report summarizing
account activity and performance.
Item 14
Client Referrals and Other Compensation
A. As referenced in Item 12.A.1 above, the Registrant receives an economic benefit from
Schwab. The Registrant, without cost (and/or at a discount), receives support services
and/or products from Schwab.
There is no corresponding commitment made by the Registrant to Schwab or any other
entity to invest any specific amount or percentage of client assets in any specific mutual
funds, securities or other investment products as a result of the above arrangement.
B. Neither the Registrant nor any management person of the Registrant compensates, directly
or indirectly, any non-supervised person for client referrals.
Item 15
Custody
The Registrant shall have the ability to have its advisory fee for each client debited by the
custodian on a monthly basis. Clients are provided, at least quarterly, with written
transaction confirmation notices and regular written summary account statements directly
from the broker-dealer/custodian and/or program sponsor for the client accounts.
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To the extent that the Registrant provides clients with periodic account statements or
reports, the client is urged to compare any statement or report provided by the Registrant
with the account statements received from the account custodian.
The account custodian does not verify the accuracy of the Registrant’s advisory fee
calculation. Clients should carefully review statements received from their custodian.
Certain clients have established asset transfer authorizations that permit the qualified
custodian to rely upon instructions from Registrant to transfer client funds or securities to
third parties. These arrangements are disclosed at Item 9 of Part 1 of Form ADV. However,
in accordance with the guidance provided in the SEC’s February 21, 2017 Investment
Adviser Association No-Action Letter, the affected accounts are not subject to an annual
surprise CPA examination.
Item 16
Investment Discretion
The client can determine to engage the Registrant to provide investment advisory services
on a discretionary basis. Prior to the Registrant assuming discretionary authority over a
client’s account, the client shall be required to execute an Investment Advisory Agreement,
naming the Registrant as the client’s attorney and agent in fact, granting the Registrant full
authority to buy, sell, or otherwise effect investment transactions (thereby effecting the
amount of a particular security in the client’s account) involving the assets (securities) in
the client’s name found in the discretionary account.
Clients who engage the Registrant on a discretionary basis may, at any time, impose
restrictions, in writing, on the Registrant’s discretionary authority (i.e., limit the
types/amounts of particular securities purchased for their account, exclude the ability to
purchase securities with an inverse relationship to the market, limit or proscribe the
Registrant’s use of margin, etc.).
Item 17
Voting Client Securities
A. The Registrant does not vote client proxies. Clients maintain exclusive responsibility for:
(1) directing the manner in which proxies solicited by issuers of securities beneficially
owned by the client shall be voted, and (2) making all elections relative to any mergers,
acquisitions, tender offers, bankruptcy proceedings or other type events pertaining to the
client’s investment assets.
B. Clients will receive their proxies or other solicitations directly from their custodian. Clients
may contact the Registrant to discuss any questions they may have with a particular
solicitation.
Item 18
Financial Information
A. The Registrant does not solicit fees of more than $1,200 per client, six months or more in
advance.
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B. The Registrant is unaware of any financial condition that is reasonably likely to impair its
ability to meet its contractual commitments relating to its discretionary authority over
certain client accounts.
C. The Registrant has not been the subject of a bankruptcy petition.
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